More interregional transmission could prevent East Coast blackouts, lower costs: NRDC report

“This study shows the powerful value of interregional transmission in reducing costs and providing reliability in extreme events,” Ric O’Connell, GridLab executive director and a reviewer of the report, said Monday.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 18, 2022

NextEra, Invenergy, other developers, clean energy groups take issue with FERC’s interconnection reform plan

NextEra Energy sees the plan as "a mixed bag of proposals of differing value that collectively fall short of remedying the significant issues currently facing renewable generation developers seeking grid interconnections."

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 17, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Grid Resiliency

Utilities and grid operators are facing increasing threats from climate change as well as cyber and physical attacks, and are deploying a variety of responses to meet the rising challenges.

By Utility Dive staff

Tesla, Google, other corporate power buyers back FERC interconnection reform plan but see pitfalls

Google urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to make sure any final interconnection rules don’t give utilities an advantage over independent power producers.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 17, 2022

Duke Energy, 3 other utilities to join Southeast Energy Exchange Market ahead of next month’s launch

Federal regulators approved the new market in November, and a lawsuit challenging that decision is still pending.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 13, 2022

EIA raises retail electricity price forecast for this year and next, signaling more pain for consumers

Millions of lower-income families will face unaffordable energy prices this winter, and those relying on Social Security may be particularly vulnerable, warn customer advocates.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 13, 2022

Maine opposes Versant Power, CMP rate increases as New England wrestles with higher power prices

Consumer advocates say that gas exports are driving energy prices higher. “Domestic energy markets simply cannot handle this insane volume of exports,” said Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen’s energy and climate program.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 12, 2022

FERC isn’t acting fast enough to strengthen the grid. Here’s one thing Congress can do.

Congress can and should shore up energy resilience by establishing a clear standard for inter-regional transmission support, the authors write.

By Liza Reed and Andrew Xu • Oct. 11, 2022

Evergy, Avista, Portland General Electric earnings poised to jump on hotter Q3, says Bank of America

Black Hills, Idacorp, Oklahoma Gas & Electric and CenterPoint could also benefit financially from the summer’s sizzling temperatures, BofA Global Research said Monday.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 11, 2022

Generators navigating MISO interconnection queue have seen costs triple in 4 years: Berkeley Lab

The increase is being driven by the need for broader network upgrades outside of the interconnection substation, researchers concluded.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 10, 2022

States press FERC for independent monitors on transmission planning, spending as Southern Co. balks

“We simply do not have the expertise on staff ... We desperately need something like an independent transmission monitor,” James McLawhorn, North Carolina Utilities Commission energy division director, said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 7, 2022

Texas designing 80 MW virtual power plant pilot spurred by Tesla desire to aggregate Powerwall batteries

The project will initially qualify participating customers as aggregated load resources, meaning “it will look like demand response,” said Commissioner Will McAdams.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 7, 2022

A transmission boom is needed to realize the Inflation Reduction Act’s benefits, and it will pay for itself

Transmission is the key enabling technology for a clean electricity system because it allows higher-quality energy resources and better utilization of those resources, the author writes.

By Barbara Tyran • Oct. 6, 2022

97% of smart meters fail to provide promised customer benefits. Can $3B in new funding change that?

Interoperability standards can deliver “non-discriminatory access” to real-time data from new smart meters to fulfill promises of customer savings and other system benefits, energy managers say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 5, 2022

Biden pledges to transform Puerto Rico’s power system as thousands remain without power

In the two weeks since Hurricane Fiona devastated the island, LUMA Energy says it has restored service to 93% of customers. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 4, 2022

PNM proposes 6-year, $344M grid modernization plan including smart meters for all customers

Low-income areas will receive prioritization for distribution system upgrades and smart meter installation, the utility said.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 4, 2022

More than 600,000 customers still without power in Florida; FPL has restored power to almost 80%

Tens of thousands of utility workers are engaged in restoration efforts, according to utility trade groups, but in southwest Florida, the hardest-hit areas could be without power until Sunday, one utility reported.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 3, 2022

Battery energy storage: the importance of energy management software

Today, the power industry is going through a renaissance driven by new cost-effective power solutions.

Oct. 3, 2022

More than 2.5M customers in Florida without power; parts of southwest grid must be rebuilt, says FPL

Recovery efforts are underway but in some areas of the state, Florida Power & Light warned the grid cannot be repaired.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2022

Florida utilities brace for potentially ‘catastrophic’ Hurricane Ian as storm nears Category 5

“Prepare for extended power outages. Please be safe,” said Tampa Electric President and CEO Archie Collins.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 28, 2022

Republicans oppose ‘sweeping’ transmission reforms, force Manchin to withdraw energy permitting bill

Progressives feared the bill would enable further development of fossil fuel infrastructure with less environmental review while Republicans worried it gave the federal government too much power over transmission development.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 28, 2022

Transmission development key to Inflation Reduction Act’s climate potential: report

“If electricity transmission cannot be expanded fast enough, power sector emissions and associated pollution and public health impacts could increase significantly as gas and coal-fired power plants produce more,” analysts said.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 26, 2022

How using building information modeling makes things better

BIM processes have the potential to benefit everyone who flips a light switch. Need to persuade a decision maker?

By Arnold Fry, P.E., POWER Engineers • Sept. 26, 2022

Manchin permitting-reform bill allows DOE to designate ‘national interest’ transmission projects

While it’s supported by renewable energy groups, the bill faces opposition from some House and Senate Democrats.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 22, 2022

New York launches 2 GW renewable energy solicitation as natural gas prices drive up electricity bills

The solicitation encourages renewables paired with energy storage technologies, sets minimum U.S. iron and steel purchase requirements, and gives special consideration to projects benefiting disadvantaged communities.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 22, 2022

More than 1M still without power in Puerto Rico as island assesses damage from Hurricane Fiona

Advocacy groups fear a repeat of 2017, when they say the federal response to Hurricane Maria was lacking and too little was done to build climate-resilient infrastructure in the wake of the storm.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 21, 2022